Glossary of command terms
This glossary of command terms provides a list of terms commonly used across the Victorian Curriculum
F–10, VCE study designs and VCE examinations.
The glossary can be used by:


teachers across Foundation to Level 10 and VCE to develop internal assessment tasks and prepare
students for tests and examinations
examination panels in the development of assessment items for external examinations.
The glossary may be used in classrooms by teachers across all F–10 curriculum areas and VCE studies to
help students better understand the requirements of command terms in the context of their discipline.
Students may benefit from using the glossary in the context of questions and tasks they are working on as
opposed to learning the terms in isolation.
It is important that the command terms are not interpreted in an overly prescriptive way. Teachers are
reminded that study-specific nuances may elicit different kinds of responses to a given term as the term may
carry a particular meaning within a discipline that is not necessarily represented in the glossary. For
example, an 'evaluate' question will require a different response in Mathematics than it will in History.
The list of terms in the glossary is not intended to be exhaustive or limiting; other terms may be used if
required and/or appropriate, allowing study-specific questions to be constructed. Additionally, not all terms in
the glossary will be suitable for use in all disciplines and studies. Reference to the relevant curriculum and
VCE study design is paramount when developing internal and external assessments.
When using command terms in the construction of assessment items, questions, tasks and marking rubrics,
the following definitions may be useful in considering what the term requires students to do.
Term
Explanation
account of
Describe a series of events or transactions.
account for
State reasons for; report on.
analyse
Identify components/elements and the significance of the relationship between them;
draw out and relate implications; determine logic and reasonableness of information.
apply
Use; employ in a particular situation or context.
assess
Make a judgment about, or measure, determine or estimate, the value, quality,
outcomes, results, size, significance, nature or extent of something.
calculate
Determine from given facts, figures or information; obtain a numerical answer
showing the relevant stages in the working; determine or find (e.g. a number, answer)
by using mathematical processes.
clarify
Make a statement or situation more comprehensible.
compare
Recognise similarities and differences and the significance of these similarities and
differences.
© VCAA
Glossary of command terms
Term
Explanation
construct
Make, build, create or put together by arranging ideas or items (e.g. an argument,
artefact or solution); display information in a diagrammatic or logical form.
contrast
Show how things are different or opposite.
deduce
Draw a conclusion from given information, data, a narrative, an argument, an opinion,
a design and/or a plan.
define
Give the precise meaning and identify essential qualities of a word, phrase, concept
or physical quantity.
demonstrate
Show ideas, how something can be done or that something is true by using examples
or practical applications, or by applying algorithms or formulas.
describe
Provide characteristics, features and qualities of a given concept, opinion, situation,
event, process, effect, argument, narrative, text, experiment, artwork, performance
piece or other artefact in an accurate way.
discuss
Present a clear, considered and balanced argument or prose that identifies issues
and shows the strengths and weaknesses of, or points for and against, one or more
arguments, concepts, factors, hypotheses, narratives and/or opinions.
distinguish
Make clear the differences between two or more arguments, concepts, opinions,
narratives, artefacts, data points, trends and/or items.
evaluate
Ascertain the value or amount of; make a judgment using the information supplied,
criteria and/or own knowledge and understanding to consider a logical argument
and/or supporting evidence for and against different points, arguments, concepts,
processes, opinions or other information.
examine
Consider an argument, concept, debate, data point, trend or artefact in a way that
identifies assumptions, possibilities and interrelationships.
explain
Give a detailed account of why and/or how with reference to causes, effects,
continuity, change, reasons or mechanisms; make the relationships between things
evident.
extract
Select relevant and/or appropriate detail from an argument, issue or artefact.
extrapolate
Infer and/or extend information that may not be clearly stated from a narrative,
opinion, graph or image by assuming existing trends will continue.
identify
Recognise and name and/or select an event, feature, ingredient, element, speaker
and/or part from a list or extended narrative or argument, or within a diagram,
structure, artwork or experiment.
infer
Derive conclusions from available information or evidence, or through reasoning,
rather than through explicit statements.
interpret
Draw meaning from an argument, point of view, description or diagram, text, image or
artwork and determine significance within context.
investigate
Observe, study or carry out an examination in order to establish facts and reach new
conclusions.
© VCAA
Page 2
Glossary of command terms
Term
Explanation
justify
Show, prove or defend, with reasoning and evidence, an argument, decision and/or
point of view using given data and/or other information.
list
Provide a series of related words, names, numbers or items that are arranged
consecutively.
name
Provide a word or term (something that is known and distinguished from other people
or things) used to identify an object, person, thing, place etc.
outline
Provide an overview or the main features of an argument, point of view, text,
narrative, diagram or image.
persuade
Induce (someone) to do something through reasoning or argument; convince.
predict
Give an expected result of an upcoming action or event; suggest what may happen
based on available information.
propose
Suggest or put forward a point of view, idea, argument, diagram, plan and/or
suggestion based on given data or stimulus material for consideration or action.
recall
Present remembered ideas, facts and/or experiences.
recommend
Put forward and/or approve (someone or something) as being suitable for a particular
purpose or role.
recount
Retell a series of events or steps in a process, usually in order.
state
Give a specific name or value or other brief answer without explanation or calculation.
suggest
Put forward for consideration a solution, hypothesis, idea or other possible answer.
summarise
Retell concisely the relevant and major details of one or more arguments, text,
narratives, methodologies, processes, outcomes and/or sequences of events.
synthesise
Combine various elements to make a whole or an overall point.
© VCAA
Page 3